Einarson and Jones post quarter-final wins at Players’ Championship

TORONTO – Winnipeg skip Kerri Einarson defeated Ottawa’s Rachel Homan 7-6 on Saturday to advance to the semifinals at the Players’ Championship.

Einarson stole two points in the final end for the victory at the Mattamy Athletic Centre.

She will next play Jennifer Jones after the Winnipeg skip topped Edmonton’s Val Sweeting 7-4.

Defending champion Eve Muirhead of Scotland dumped American Erika Brown 12-4 and Switzerland’s Silvana Tirinzoni beat Edmonton’s Kelsey Rocque 3-2 in the other quarter-finals.

On the men’s side, Brad Gushue of St. John’s, N.L., defeated Niklas Edin of Sweden 7-3 to reach the semifinal. Gushue, the lone undefeated skip at the tournament, will face Scotland’s David Murdoch, who downed Glenn Howard of Penetanguishene, Ont., 8-2.

Winnipeg’s Mike McEwen will face Brad Jacobs of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., in the other men’s semi. McEwen topped Calgary’s Kevin Koe 8-5 in their quarter-final matchup while Jacobs dispatched Saskatoon’s Steve Laycock 6-2 to advance.

The semifinals and finals are set for Sunday.

The tournament is the sixth stop on the Grand Slam of Curling circuit.